National Football Foundation

Ole Miss’s successor at quarterback to NFF Chairman and College Football Hall of Famer Archie Manning, Norris Weese starred for the Rebels for three seasons. He accumulated 3,327 total yards of offense (2,084 passing and 1,243 rushing) and accounted for 35 touchdowns (19 passing, 16 rushing). Weese led the 1971 squad to a 10-2 record and a 41-18 victory over Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl. He earned Offensive MVP honors in the game, throwing for 116 yards and a touchdown along with 32 yards and a touchdown on the ground. In 1972, Weese set the school record for single-game rushing yards by a quarterback with 178 in a 51-14 win over Mississippi State, earning him his second SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor in his career. He finished the season as the SEC’s leader in total offense (917 yards passing, 542 yards rushing).

A co-captain of the 1973 Ole Miss team, Weese earned a laundry list of honors including the Jackson Touchdown Club Sportsman of the Year, the Hula Bowl Offensive MVP, the Birmingham Chapter Leadership Award and the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence as Ole Miss’ outstanding senior. He was also selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game. Weese tied the school record with only one interception thrown in his senior season. A two-time Academic All-SEC selection, he compiled a 3.8 GPA in accounting and was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He served as president of Beta Gamma Sigma and president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Weese was selected in the fourth round (99^th overall) of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, but eventually signed with The Hawaiians of the World Football League. After two seasons with The Hawaiians, he played four seasons with the Denver Broncos. Weese replaced College Football Hall of Famer Craig Morton in the third quarter of Super Bowl XII, recording 22 yards passing and 26 yards rushing in the 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Weese was named the starter for the 1979 season, but a knee injury ended his NFL Career. He completed 143-of-251 passes for 1,887 yards and seven touchdowns in 57 games for the Broncos. Weese also carried the ball 69 times for 362 yards and five touchdowns.

Weese became a CPA for Patten, McCarthy & Associates in Denver after his playing days and also served as the firm’s vice president. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 43. Weese was inducted into the Ole Miss and St. Bernard Parish Sports Halls of Fame.